Improvement in steam-plows



0 REDMON D.

Steam Plow.

Patented Oct. 23, 1866.

Witnesses= Inventor,

X/MW M 'Um'rnn S'rarns PATENT OFFICE.

OWEN REDMOND, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IM PROVEMENT lNlSTEAM-PLOWS.

Specification forming part'of, Letters Patent No. 59,073, dated October23, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OWEN REDMOND, of Rochester, county of Monroe, andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement onSteam-Flows, of which the following is afull and exact description,reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of thisspecification.

1 am aware that several efforts have from time to time been made toconstruct such asteam-plow as would admit of a practical application tothe requirements of agriculturists but hitherto they have provedfailures, I think, for want of traction-that is, such a construction ofdriving wheel or wheels to the machine as will admit of therequiredsteam-power being applied as will draw the plows, without any slippingof those wheels, and at the same time be light and-durable.

My invention, therefore, is confined chiefly to the driving or tractionwheels of steamplows: The mode of applying steam as the propellerthereof I leave to the judicious engineer, who can adapt my invention toany of various kinds of small but powerful steamengines with thenecessary effect. The engine could be placed on the frame oftractionwheels.

Figure 1 is a view of the traction-wheel and frame of the machine, nosteam-engine being represented thereon; Fig. 2, a plan of thetraction-wheel, with the side covering removed, that the interiorconstruction may be readily understood; Fig. 3, plan of lever andmovable cam attached; Fig. 4, plan of anchor detached from the wheel.Wheel A, Fig. 2, is made of cast or wrought iron, five to six feetdiameter, having about twelve apertures in the face of its rim, anddivided evenly all around. The rim forms a flange ten or more incheswide, and within the apertures an equal number of anchors, B B B, aremade to enter. The anchors are wedge-shaped, or may be of any otherproper design at their outer ends, and fit to move freely in theapertures. Their inner ends are jointed to one end of arms 0 O O, andthese arms are fastened at their other ends by studs or bolts to theside of the wheel at D D D.

A strong stud is fixed in each .anchor at E, and to diminish friction acaster-wheel may be fitted to revolve freely thereon. These studs passthrough slots or openings g in the side of the wheel.

A peculiarly-shaped ring-like eccentric or cam, F, is secured firmly tothe main frame of the machine and outside of the wheel. The studsaforesaid rest upon the inner edge of this eccentric. End of leverattached to movable cam, Fig. 3, moves freely on a stud at G, and has aweight suspended to the other end. At a suitable distance from the studat G- there is a hole in the lever, which fits upon a stout boltor studin the movable cam H. This cam is curved at its lower edge to con= formto the curve of the stationary eccentric F somewhat. The position of themovable cam with respect to that of the eccentric is governed by thelever, and may be so adjusted that while the studs or caster-wheels ofthe anchors rest upon the edge of the eccentric the edge of the cam willpress upon the studs or wheels aforesaid.

The object of the above-described invention is to produce the requisitetraction in machinery for drawing steam'plows, &c., by theagency ofaseries of anchors, which are madeto protrude from the margin of thedriving-wheels of the machine in such a manner as to penetrate theground to any suitable depth, and then withdraw up into the wheels againat the proper time.

The operation of the machine is as follows: As the drivin g-wheels whichcarry the anchors revolve, the studs or casters move around upon theedge of the eccentric F, and will describe the form of same, whateverthat may be, passing in succession under the lower edge of the movablecam H, attached to the lever. The. combined form of eccentric F and camH controls the movement of the anchors in such a manner that as thewheel revolves these anchors are forced out through the rim of thewheel, and are driven into the ground by the weighted lever in aperpendicular manner, or nearly so, and then immediately after theywithdraw themselves from the ground in a vertical position upon passinga line somewhat behind the center of the wheel, and thus avoidbackstrain upon the anchors and bursting of the ground, which wouldoccur if the anchors did not withdraw at the proper time. The verticalposition of the anchors while entering and withdrawing from the soil isproduced mainly by their swinging around upon the arms 0 G O, andpartially by the Wedge form of the outer ends of the anchors.

Whenever, in the operation of the machine, a stone or other hardsubstance shouldchance to come under an anchor about to enter theground, in this case the movable cam rises and permits that anchor torush up into the wheel, and upon passing the obstruction it is pressedinto the ground again by the weighted lever.

I may observe that two or four of the abovedescribed traction-wheelswould be proper for each machine.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The anchors, operating substantially as described, or operating themin any manner by which their protrusion and withdrawal are efi'ected ina somewhat similar way.

2. The eccentric F.

3. The movable cam H, lever, and weight, or a spring equivalent to theweight.

OWEN REDMOND.

\Vitnesses:

E. A. REDMOND, J. REDMoNn.

